DeFrancisco Preparing GOP Cuomo Challenge

Tennessee Republican Bill Lee is launching his first statewide TV ad.

AL GOV: Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle (R) “was somewhat non-committal on the issue of a lottery but he appeared to leave the door open to it being a possibility if he is elected governor later this year.” (AL.com)

CA GOV: At a debate Thursday at UCLA organized by immigration activists, many “of the debate’s questions revolved around immigration, a touchstone issue to many in the audience. But” Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) and former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa (D) “also unleashed deeply personal attacks on how the other made his money, a shift from the policy spats that have emerged in prior clashes.” (Los Angeles Times)

Former Rep. Doug Ose (R) was excluded from the debate “after he was not included in recent polling by the Latino Community Foundation because he entered the race earlier this month, the candidate said on Wednesday. He described his exclusion as based on ‘a legitimate reason.’ … But on Thursday, he took to Twitter to blast the foundation, accusing it of excluding him because of his support for President Trump.” (Los Angeles Times)

KS GOV: “[M]uch of” former Gov. Kathleen Sebelius’s (D) “team is behind” state Sen. Laura Kelly (D), “which will be a big help with fundraising and organizing.” (Kansas City Star)

MA GOV: Former state Sen. Dan Wolf (D) said “he’s made a definitive decision not to run for governor of Massachusetts this year. ‘I’m not running,’ he said.” He said “he’s focused on his airline and other non-political efforts.” (Boston Globe)

State Sen. John DeFrancisco (R) said he’s “very heavily leaning” toward running for governor. DeFrancisco: “I’m not trying to be coy, it’s just that it’s not like running for school board. It’s so many pieces throughout the state that have to be put together and I’m well on my way to put everything together and before the end of the month, there’s going to a be formal announcement.” (Talk 1300 AM)

TN GOV: Housing services executive Bill Lee (R) will launch his first statewide TV ad Saturday. The biographical spot, which opens with him describing the death of his first wife in a horse-riding accident, will run for a week on network and cable, according to a spokesman. (Hotline reporting)